FOOD for Thought and my FUTURE

Over the past year my brain and body have undergone a dramatic transformation. I have fed my brain an abundance of knowledge within the Holistic Nutrition field. I have studied, researched, completed courses, read, experimented and tested countless new nutrition and wellness approaches. My body has gone from an outwardly appearing healthy individual who was filled with toxins and imbalances, into a rejuvenated and balanced body both inside and out. I have begun taking on new clients to look deep into the root causes of their health status and have formulated logical and realistic health prescriptions and action plans to educate them on making better choices for their unique personal wellness journeys. Along the way I have altered my approach to fitness, nutrition, lifestyle habits, emotional perception and the way in which I go about my day. I have also changed the way I help people around the world, the philosophies I hold and my methods of delivery. The more I learn the more confident I am that there is so much more to nutrition and health then we ever thought was possible. As I am entering my seventeenth year within the health and fitness industry I am confident in saying that I will continue to learn and grow as a person and professional for the rest of my days on earth. This new chapter of my life is a wonderfully exciting one and feels like the perfect puzzle piece to my already acquired knowledge through my massage therapy degree, personal training specialization, team building management and personal athletic accomplishments. Over the past year I have found peace within myself and a more positive and laid back approach to life. I have learned that balance between mind, body, and spirit is essential for everyday living. I have learned that being within the moment is extremely important and challenging. Personal relationships have been nurtured and even more importantly I have learned that being aware and grateful are two very important ingredients to any recipe. During stressful times it is always challenging to remember to live each day like it was your last, but I have made a point to never leave words unspoken. Some of you may laugh at this last sentence and that is probably because you know me well. I have always been one to speak my mind and I am reassuring you that my mother can vouch for that. I have been punished, ousted, ostracized, dumped, fired, threatened and almost thrown in jail for my wild ability to stand up for what I feel is right and to blow whistles when I think it is appropriate. There are times when I am sure that I should have kept my big trap shut, but most of the time I am proud of my ability to do speak out. My personal belief is that life is too short to beat around the bush and to just tackle situations by getting to the root of the problem. I suppose that is why I choose the Holistic Nutrition field and decided to leave Dietetics and traditional medicine to others (yes that was my loud mouth again). As this journey has unfolded I have uncovered some of the most disturbing information I have ever seen. There have been many days when I would come home and drop into bed crying at some of the disgusting ways man (mankind) has destroyed the earth and one another. I have almost turned away from the health and wellness industry a few times thinking that it is a lost cause. I have asked myself daily “how can one person change a world that is so damaged and distorted”. For a few hours I give up and then I see more governments, companies, and money hungry people take advantage of people that do not know any better. I read hundreds of studies produced by scientists, the traditional medical professionals, major worldwide corporations, and holistic practitioners to obtain all points of view on a specific subject. I then go back to science and relate the information to each specific situation to see if it aligns with my philosophies. Nine times out of ten I see humans destroying humans because of the need for money or power (one in the same from what I can see) and I see a world filled with not only toxic environments and food supplies but toxic people. In amongst the dreary situation we are all faced with at the moment I also see a glimmer of hope. I take pleasure in seeing smiles on the faces of people who are uplifted by information and knowledge that I share. I am gracious to the people that take time to express their gratitude, but more importantly I feel as though the world can be changed when I see the extreme changes a person can make simply by adopting the recommendations that we implement. I have seen major diseases heal, severe allergies dissipate, infertile couples conceive, pre-mature babies develop, pregnant mothers thrive, and athletes achieve the unthinkable. So in essence as long as I continue to see positive changes in the world then I am able to continue to fight the “bad guys”. With all of the posts, recipes and knowledge that I share I hope that you too can “share” and educate yourselves and friends further on how our food, lifestyle, environment, activity and stress levels are determining how healthy you are! In health and love, ~Jenny B www.jennybfit.ca jenny@jennybfit.ca

Staying Strong in the FIGHT Against Cancer

Cancer is a battle and those who have to face it, have to prepare for the fight of a lifetime. As with all things in life, attitude is everything and cancer is no different. Those who face treatments with a positive outlook tend to have the greatest success stories. Eating well, getting plenty of rest, and continuing to do things that one enjoys are all a recipe for a better prognosis, whether mesothelioma, pancreatic cancer, or prostate cancer is the problem. Regardless of which form of cancer one is facing, exercise is extremely important as well. It is essential to stay strong in order to endure the strain of treatment and get on the road to recovery. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments wreak havoc on the body. There will be times when it is hard to get out of bed. However, as soon as the worst is over, it's important to keep going. If possible, cancer patients should try and get into a routine of daily activities that can't be missed. It doesn't have to be anything intense or high impact. Going for a walk every day could be the perfect outlet for exercise. It can be adjusted depending to how one feels, extending the distance on good days, cutting back on the days when the body doesn't want to cooperate. One of the best things any cancer patient can do is team up with a buddy to stay motivated. Get a change of scenery and visit national parks. Walk around a lake. Go away for a weekend and take a hike. Make it enjoyable while keeping the body in shape. Yoga is another excellent choice when it comes to exercise, regardless of one's physical condition. It enhances flexibility, keeps the body strong, and provides many techniques for relaxation. Facing cancer is extremely stressful on a person's mind and physical well-being. Regular yoga sessions can actually be a source of relief and tranquility. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, many studies have been conducted that support exercise as a plan of attack for those facing cancer. Exercise promotes strength, a healthy weight, flexibility, and a positive sense of well-being. It is important for those who face cancer to do things that they enjoy, as they stay active. They will have something to look forward to and feel better as well. Cancer patients should also listen to their bodies, adapting their exercise routine day by day with the consultation of their doctor. - Melanie Bowen melanielbowen@gmail.com http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/melanie/bio.htm

The Jennifer TransFORMATION!

I was born Jennifer and then at some point in my life my sweet, quiet loving grandpa transformed me into Jennifer Lee. This transformation was unconscious and just happened through the caring influence of my mother’s father. As I learned to walk and saw the world through my child eyes, I grew and the “Lee” just happened. As I entered school I slowly morphed into Jen. Jen was a growing girl who took pleasure in the humor of life and always wanted to have fun and be constantly stimulated by new things. Jen played by a different set of rules and had an agenda for life like no other. Jen also struggled throughout her teenage years and rebelled against everything and everyone she could. I suppose you could say that the –nifer lost in my birth name was also symbolism of losing a bit of myself. As most teenagers and young adults do, I become confused in who I was and what I was doing on this earth. In amongst my years as Jen I would spend my summers as Jenny-Lou. Jenny-Lou was comfortable for me and taught me about hard work in the labour sense. It brought me joy and life-long friendships; it brought me exploration and the beginnings of my love for the beach and everything it stood for. But when the summer months would end I would morph back into Jen. Jen left this world and became Jenny as she transcended from a butterfly to a moth and then back into a butterfly. This Jenny journey brought me into an ugly moth stage as I looked in the mirror and saw what other moths told me I was. I lost my beautiful colors and my ability to soar was stunted by my personal weakness. As the days went by Jenny the moth looked around to find something to give her hope that she would one day turn back into a beautiful butterfly and fly away back into the world she loved so much. I remember the day that Jenny the moth came out of her cocoon and turned back into Jenny the butterfly and it was unlike any other. I was with a bunch of my butterfly friends and they were unconsciously reminding me how wonderful it was to fly and that being Jenny did not mean that I had to be a moth any longer. Two of these butterflies today still remain close to my heart and they always will. That night I flew away from my old self and I have never looked back. To this day I am still a Jenny but when I share my knowledge and give without thinking I become a J. I feel no loss of the -enny, in fact I feel more complete as a J, but I know that staying a Jenny is where I need to be. Years ago a beautiful woman saw the Jenny B in me and I remember that ah ha moment when she uttered this new personae. Jenny B was a passion in my head during my early Jenny days but something that I had never really acted upon. Today I am confident that I know when and where to put Jenny, J, or Jenny B name tags on and am so grateful for my transformation. So you see this is my journey, one that I am thankful for and blessed to have had. I have met so many influential people along the way that drove me to become who I am today, a confident woman who is happy with the many hats she has in her closet, ready to wear each of them when the time is right. FOREVER, Jennifer, Jennifer Lee, Jenny-Lou, Jen, Jenny, J, Jenny B

F this day!

I love how in a single day I go from having what seems like the most stressful day on earth to pure bliss within a few hours. How I can sit in front of the most understanding and supportive man on earth and vent to him for 20 minutes straight (without even taking a breath) about how stupid people in this world appear to be (to me anyways) and how I cannot understand how people operate. I then go to meet an incredible woman who is passionate and fabulous in all senses of the word and discuss business and ideas and become rejuvenated. Then I head home to be greeted by a 15 year old that already knows that I have had a tough day as she proceeds to give me her last (yes last) maple syrup candy to try and cheer me up. Wow. One hour later I sit down and eat my dinner and then start crying at the TLC show called Strange Addictions because I am so sad that the next generation is being born into a world filled with more issues than Playboy magazine. I sit down to relax and answer a few emails, go on Facebook all awhile chatting with my 76 year old grandmother who is determined to explain to me why he believes evil people are taking over her nursing home. I briefly (not so brief to her) share a bit of my day with a Facebook friend because I know that she may just have the same frustrations and questions about life that I do. We giggle and laugh about “Ken and Barbie” and at the intricacies in today’s society. My day then leads into a conversation with my mother who is convinced that she is a product of my comedy sketch. I try to explain to her that I am not being funny but I am just telling her how it is and most people just don’t say what they think because they are too afraid of how others will perceive them. Too bad I don’t care what others think about me, should I? The next u-turn is towards balls, yes that’s right balls. For some reason every day since I can remember my day always includes a discussion about balls. Whether it be a short or long or floppy (you get my point), it always ends up there. Regardless I end up laughing and realizing that no matter how many sore neck muscles I have from shaking my head because of how odd the day was, I still end up laughing and smiling and enjoying life. So what did you do today?

Transition Time: PART I

F word #1 FAMILY
A few weeks ago I asked my sister, brother-in-law (FBIL), mother and soul mate (Goat) what they would say are 3 words that best described me.

This is what they said:
Mother: Witty, beautiful and sarcastic
Sis: Creative, driven and funny
FBIL: Funny, opinionated and warm-hearted
Goat: Funny, funnier, funniest

I cannot helped but think three things; one my sister should have rearranged her answers in order to be more accurate, two FBIL, mom and Goat are SMRT people and lastly I feel a lot of pressure to suddenly fill a comedic role through my blog. Regardless I just wanted to share a little bit about myself, or at least how my FAMILY views me!

F word #2 FOOD
Over the past few months I have been in experimental mode and the kitchen has been my laboratory (insert evil laugh here). Poor FAMILY you might say, but generally I think most of my experiments usually turn out alright. If the family doesn’t like the FOOD then the racoons certainly enjoy it! November was cookie month and I had 6 recipes to try out in hopes of having 3 winners for Christmas time. Luckily our household has a high cookie tolerance and I am not too fond of them myself. After the dough was rolled, cut out, baked and tasted the clear cut winners were the gingerbread rounds with butter cream icing in the middle. These tasty treats (WHAT I had to try a few) were re-named cheeseburgers due to the soft butter cream centres being rolled in Christmas sprinkles which were sandwiched together by soft brown gingerbread wafers which resembled hamburger buns. After 4 batches I am pretty certain I found the perfect recipe.

On to the more productive FOOD experiment details. I have been testing out and educating myself on the intricacies of the PALEO diet and how to combine PALEO approved foods to make menu worthy creations. I am fairly knowledgeable on the high fat, no gluten, grain and high protein diet as throughout my 2011 contest season I was primary on a fat loading / ketosis program. What is new to me is that the Paleo diet does not eliminate natural sugars from fruit. This is a new concept for my body and is perhaps a great balance for a long term nutrition plan for many people. This is why I have a few lab rats (ok they are people) I know on the diet and I am monitoring them in regards to performance, energy levels, fat loss, muscle gains and overall opinions on how easy the program is to follow. I will keep you up to date on my findings. As a health and fitness consultant I find that it is integral for me to not only test new nutrition approaches on myself but others as well. Constant learning and brain building!

Here are my two new favourite Paleo approved foods and my findings.
1. The almighty Bacon Wrapped Date
Let’s just say that there is nothing like that salty rich exterior and the warm sweetness of the date. The first time I made them it was obvious that the type of date you use is VERY important. Medjool dates are the only ones I would use; keep those sticky dates in the cupboard for this one. That means you Lee! Soak those small skewers in water for a good 20 minutes before stabbing that plump date (take the bloody pit out lazy) wrapped in bacon. Of course I am always trying to make food better so after the first attempt I thought that it needed a little crunch. Round two proved that the almond stuffed date (just replace the pit with an almond) made a big difference. I still think it can be improved upon so next time I will be putting some forbidden goat cheese in the date just to see what it will be like. I personally think it will be epic!

2. Almond Cashew Jamberry Bars
I have only made these once and if I hurry home there may still be one in the freezer for me to eat, and if Skippy (Goats youngest daughter) likes them then they have to be good. They are a mixture of lemon juice, blackberries, raspberry and honey spread on top of a thick layer of crushed almonds, cashews and pure maple syrup. I still have doubts on how this can possibly be good for you and I will be altering the recipe to make them more solid and replace the maple syrup and honey with a few other ingredients. The maple syrup and honey are apparently allowed in small doses on the Paleo diet. Heck if these are allowed then this program is looking more and more feasible as the clock ticks.

You might be able to tell that FOOD is a real passion of mine and I could probably talk about it for an eternity, so I should really quite while I am ahead.

F word #3 FITNESS
Yes, I did kind of leave you hanging on the last blog. Sorry but I had to create some kind of anticipation and bribing you with food wasn’t going to be possible via the net. As I stated in my last entry I decided not to get up on stage and compete in 2012.

Over the past year my sister has gotten involved in crossfit. She is the most hardcore women you will ever know and has done some of the most insane sports, events and workouts known to woman/man. After hearing about her crossfit journey over the past year I started to become more and more intrigued. In September my sister came to visit me and I did my first crossfit WOD (workout of the day). For those of you that are wondering what crossfit is I suggest you take a look at a few YouTube videos and try to keep your jaw closed when watching them. Each WOD has a name and this particular one was nasty. His name was Tabata and I will never forget him. The WOD was 8 sets of 20 second reps with 10 seconds of rest in between each set. We started with air squats (the air seemed heavier than usual that day) and by the sixth set I am sure I looked at my sister with evil eyes and asked her WTF she was trying to do to me.
You see I have never been one for cardio of any kind. In fact I would bargain with my coach and do anything I had to (within reason) do in order to always avoid cardio. When ever anyone asked me how much cardio I did when I prepared for a figure competition I would mumble the answer under my breath so they could never hear me. The average person does over 1.5 hours of cardio minimum a day for about 8 weeks leading up to a show. Personally I have never done more than an hour a day for more than 2 weeks. I never saw the point because it always tore down the muscle I worked so hard to get.
So fast forward to me attempting to complete this “so called WOD” with my “so called sister” who was supposed to love me, not try to kill me (there is my sarcasm as my mother would say). Once the squats were done we moved on to pull-ups and then sauntered over to the box jumps (evil things) and then ended with some sit-ups. Now this workout was tough but I had done tough workouts before. The next morning I walked with a limp and stiffened up like a board and can still remember that day like it was yesterday. As I limped around the house I knew that this was a sport I wanted to dig a little deeper into.
In November I gathered up enough courage to sign up for the set of fundamentals classes at Altitude Crossfit in Burlington. I knew that if I was going to get involved in a new sport that I would need a mentor, a community to support and push me and a facility in which to train in (and perhaps an ambulance nearby). Those classes almost killed me and I know that I will have to train 10 times harder than most in order to progress because I have never trained my cardiovascular system. I also have a wrist and thumb injury that requires me to alter a few exercises in order to get the WODs done. I do what I have to do in order to getter done!

So this is my new journey, a journey on a brand new path, unexplored by my body. My priorities are no longer getting as lean or as symmetrical as I can. My priorities and goals are doing a 180 and are geared towards building my strength, developing my techniques, and getting these lungs and this heart a moving!

I use to say that if I was ever being chased by someone that there was a 99% chance that I would just turn around and try to talk my way out of the situation instead of attempting to run. I have never run a mile without stopping in my life. This new journey I am embarking upon is frightening and there will be good days and there will be bad. This journey is not unlike any other goal that each one of us has. I believe that dreams are goals without a plan, a roadmap, a true belief and desire to achieve them. If you believe, have a little faith and have the proper tools to achieve your goals then anything is possible. So my dream begins……………….

There no way to put this other than to say that 2011 was an incredible year! I sit back and reflect how many epic moments I had. To say I am grateful is an understatement.

Most of you know that I started competing back in 2001 but after my 5th show in 2003 I knew that I had to take time off to build some solid muscle and sculpt my body to become more symmetrical and balanced in order to compete against the National level girls (full on beautiful beasts). I took 8 years off to build a business (health and fitness consulting), travel the world (Australia and all over Canada) and gain the strength (arm wrestled all the drunkards), knowledge (SMRT) and team (Team Jenny B Fit) I needed to make a comeback in the figure world. In August of 2010 I decided that I was going all out, balls to the walls, train each day like I was only one week out from getting on stage to compete. My Coach Chris Marzarella was behind me 100% and together we created solid plans in order to prepare me for what was ahead. I don’t envy the poor SOB because I am one of the WORST clients anyone could have, I want to know the “whys” behind everything and always believe that there may be a better way of doing things. No chicken, brown rice, broccoli diets and 2 hours of cardio a day for this girl! I knew there was a much better approach to the old school diet and training that would spare the muscle I worked my weapon off to build. Coach and I found what worked best and rode that donkey to the stage!

I also met my soul mate at the end of 2010 and willingly moved to Ontario to start a new chapter filled with adventure, love and laughter. Who could ask for anything more right? Well he also has 3 beautiful girls that have made this adventure even better and I thank them for being so wicked in the process. Each one of them supported me every day through my contest preparations and they sat in the audience donning their personalized Jenny B Fit t-shirts and foam fingers. Again, I am very grateful.

My first show was in Quebec to compete at the WBFF figure in the masters division. It was a great feeling to be back up on the stage again and even though there were only two of us in the class I felt like I brought my best package to date and accomplished everything I set out to achieve. At the end of August I switched back to the IFBB, where I first started competing back in 2001. I felt amazing and loved being on the stage in Ontario with an improved physique, presentation and package than a few months before.

This journal and my writing style is not always going to be about all the wonderful things in life, it’s not edited and sometimes I have no filter (actually most times). There will be times when I speak my mind and some people may not like it, but that is the joy of a blog. My opinion is mine and if you don’t like it then that’s awesome because we are all different and entitled to our opinions. With that being said this is most likely going to be the tamest of my blog entries, so prepare yourselves lol. If you are following you may be in for some long winded rambling!

Now that I have prefaced my final paragraph properly I can tell you that I was disappointed with my placing at my last competition. This doesn’t mean that I don’t feel as though I was entitled to win nor does it mean that I think I was better than anyone else on stage. I don’t train to come in 2nd or 4th I train to win. With that being said after valuable information and feedback from the judges at the show they have told me that I carry too much muscle and came in too lean for the figure division. I respect that and that is why I have decided that I will not be competing in the figure division in 2012. Stay tuned for the new adventure..............woot woot!

GO FIGURE: 2 Days Out: Ode to Donkey

There once was a donkey and his name was Fred ..
Every damn morning he would get me out of bed ..
He was an old donkey but he sure made me sweat ..
But not nearly as much as our stinky new pet !!

Thank you Coach Jugs for being so mean ..
Without your badass attitude I would not have gotten so lean ..
You listened to my whining, you are a true gift ..
My butt likes you as well .. must be those deadlift(s)!!

I want to make sure that I thank PA 1 and PA 2 ..
Without them I would not rememeber all that I had to do ..
I wouldnt be here without my whole team ..
To help me achieve my goals and my dream ..

On Saturday I step onto the stage ..
I enter a new chapter and turn a new page ..
What happens in the end remains to be seen ..
But I can tell you one thing .. I WILL BE EATING POUTINE!!

So this concludes my Ode to Donkey and now I must make a few calls ..
Its almost show time so as I always say "BALLS TO THE WALLS"

GO FIGURE: Carbless Style

I thought that it would be amusing to write my last blog before the competition while I am in the deep black hole we call CARB DEPLETION!! I am sure many of you will find the secret hidden grammatical errors (Dougie) and clever puns. I assure you that all of the content is purely a symptom of a disease I have called “carbless-itis”. It’s a common disease amongst competitors who only have a week until show time. Many have only slight side effects, me … well the symptoms hit with a bang!

This morning I had my last donkey riding session (my stationary bike). We shared an intimate moment laughing about old times when I use to wake up early just to take him for a ride while half asleep.

Today I went to work and attempted to perform my usual triple tasking duties. At several points during the day I looked out the window to see the traffic driving by and they seemed to be going 90 mph. It dawned on me that they only appeared to be going so fast because I was moving so slow.

This evening was spent doing my last lower body workout in conjunction with 20 min on the stepper donkey and 20 min on the bike. The fitness facility was as hot as a desert and I actually felt like I was riding a donkey while drinking tequila. Lets just say I was DONE by the time that workout was over. Mission body depletion = accomplished! I texted my coach to tell him that I hated him (a common occurrence) for making me do that workout when he replied that it wasn’t supposed to be a heavy lifting workout. I explained that lifting a paper clip at this point is strenuous!

My regular daily progress pictures were sent to my coach this evening. His response was “OOOO-MI-GOD. WOW. Hands down … holy f%^*&* s%%&*”. He is a man of many selective descriptive words. I had to confirm that was a good response. He said YES.

Our home is filled with blue foam fingers that are being painted and personalized for the show. The Jenny B Fit clan is getting packed and ready for the journey to Quebec. I am primping, priming and posing to prepare (too many P’s). I am also ensuring that all of the post show food products are readily available. You will find out what these are in the next instalment of GO FIGURE. I have a feeling it might be a C themed blog. Cookies, chips and cupcakes!!!

Well I am heading to bed now. Yes, it’s only 7:00 pm BUT I get carbs tomorrow! Time to get on the road and head to the show! ITS GO TIME!!

Once again many thanks to my special peeps who provide endless support, motivation, facebook status corrections, love, food creations and many laughs. My two personal assistants have been my lifesavers. Much love to all of you.

Now lets go Team Jenny B! Woot Woot!

GO FIGURE: Contest day is within reach!!

Its been a while since my last blog. I have been busy ridin the donkey (old school stationary bike).

I will tell you a few things about this donkey:
1. He needs to eat more so his back isnt so boney
2. He really needs to take some glucosamine so that his joints arent so squeaky
3. His pale body could use a tan

Other than that I am rockin it! My main goals if you read my previous blogs were to balance out my upper body and develop my lower body over the past 7 months. I am happy to say that with the constant support of my coach, family and friends that I have made amazing changes. I am proud and almost ready to put all my hard work on stage!

Less than 4 weeks to go and the posing suit is done and the rest of the competition elements are in order.

The support of my new family is amazing and I am very appreciative of them helping in everyway possible.


The cardio is on each day, the weights are five times a week and posing another 3 days. I am still fat loading 5.5 days a week with under 30g of carbs and then for 1.5 days I carb load with minimal fats ... to refuel the system. Its a VERY different approach than most competitors BUT it works for me!

Each "carb day" is called the Jenny B Carb show at our house. It entails me jumping up and down excited for pancakes and syrup or some sugar filled cereal .. I then shuffle around the kitchen island and ask for chocolate and chips .. of course I dont get them .. but we all laugh at my tactics to try and get some .. they never give in!

Life in Ontario is perfect as perfect could be .. minus my sister / PA #2 of course .. and FBIL .. I am enjoying the new surroundings, job and everything that the East brings.

At the moment I am planning a competition strategy for the 2011 and 2012 season. I am going to actively seek out sponsorship opportunities after this show. I hope to continue within the industry and give it all I have.

Now its time to rest the body and get back on that donkey for in 24 days its SHOW TIME!!! GIVER BALLS TO THE WALLS PEOPLE !!!

GO FIGURE: Chapter Five ... 12 Weeks Out!!

It has only been a few weeks since my last update but allot has happened!

I have accepted a position in Ontario and will be relocating in just a few weeks!

I am more than excited for this new journey and chapter in my life, especially because it includes 4 new VERY special people. 2011 has been a dream thus far and I can only imagine what will be in store for me during the next 10 months!

Training is going exceptionally well and since starting the new cutting program two weeks ago I have made major body changes. In fact I have made such great changes that we are adjusting things and pulling back a bit. Because preparing for a competition is so precise and requires exact timing and calculations in order to come in just the right condition we have had to make alterations to ensure that happens. My over charged metabolism prefers to burn all the food I eat within the first 15min of eating! While some think that is a dream come true, it can also be a hurdle in trying to maintain all the muscle I have worked hard to build over the past year. So the calories are up again and we are trying 4 more weeks of fat loading until I reach the 8 week out mark. One week at a time is the strategy here :)

I am busy saying goodbye to loved ones in Alberta and packing up all of my belongings to make the journey to Ontario. This sounds like a huge task for most however I have a few advantages on my side! One, I have moved across the country and across the world a few times (under statement) within the past 8 years. Two, I have put wheels on all of my belongings so I just roll with it, lol (at least I still have my humor). Three, I have the most supportive family and friends to help me adjust and motivate me through whatever comes my way. I am truly blessed.

Posing practice has begun and the 5 inch clear heels are working it twice a week to ensure I present myself to the best of my ability. I am convinced that I need higher heels but some would argue ;) My seamstress and I went to get my competition posing suit fabric and I cannot wait to start working on making it fabulous with over 1000 crystals! It’s going to be blinged to the nines! She is a fabulous designer and also happens to be my progress picture photographer.

On another note, a FABULOUS note in fact! I am now an official Beyond Nutrition Sponsored Athlete! Woot Woot! I am very excited and honored to join the BN team. This company makes some fabulous products and I know that the ALL OUT pre-workout drink gives me that extra push to getter done, and getter done right! Thank you Joe and Chris for the opportunity!! I will make you proud :)

So I am off to pack up and leap forward into Chapter Five! Thank you Mike; for leaping with me, finding me and making me the happiest woman alive. Thank you Coach; for supporting me every day and putting up with my whining and bargaining. Thank you sister; for being my best friend and partner in crime ETP GS. Thank you FBIL for being a wicked addition to the family! Thank you dad for being you and for even considering traveling all that way to watch my show, it means the world to me. Thank you mom; for being my photographer, for helping me create my masterpiece suit, for putting up with me and for all your love. Thank you Court for accepting me and making me feel welcome, along with your sisters. Thank you Sara; for keeping an eye on me every day and for making work a joy to come to everyday. Thank you bear cub for being my posing partner in crime and for telling me which butt pose looks best lol, congrats to you as well! Thank you Janie and Lindsay for being my distant but powerful supporters, I know you’re pushing me from afar. Thank you to all of my Facebook friends that push me and motivate me every day from your kind comments and words .. I am a happy and blessed woman! THIS ONES FOR ALL OF YOU!!


12 weeks BRING IT !!!

GO FIGURE: Eternal Bliss!!

When the ball dropped in NYC on NYE I had a feeling that 2011 was going to be my year. I had no idea what was in store for me, but I could feel that greatness was on the horizon.

I am 100 days out from competition and feeling great! For those of you that follow my blog and are somewhat confused about my countdown, my coach and I have decided that I will be competing in the WBFF Quebec Championship show on April 30th instead of the Vancouver show on May 28th. So this Saturday I will officially be 14 weeks out from the competition, and ready to rock!

The fat loading / bulk phase of my preparations have finished and I was instructed to take a week off of dieting. This week was foreign to me and being able to eat whatever I wanted was exciting. Of course I had lovely foods such as fruit, brown rice, oysters, tortillas and I may or may not have snuck in a cupcake or two!

My 35th birthday was on January 11th and my beautiful sister planned a GOATacular event (I love goats). We had a fabulous time and celebrated with goat beards and I donned a special birthday tutu! I had a special guest come into town to help celebrate, which made the weekend one that I will never forget. Thanks Cupcake, favorite brother-in-law and super sister! xxx

At the moment I am on a 14 day to start off my cutting phase. I do not “diet” and prepare for competitions like the majority of competitors, my approach is different and it works for my body. So after 12 days of a modified fasting program I carb load for two days. What does this mean? It means that I will be in carb heaven for two days with more energy than the energizer bunny!

Posing, suit preparations, travel arrangements and a few other secret details are being planned and organized for the next few months. I am off to the races and the abs are popping out already. I am so excited that in 100 days I will be up on stage again, with a new federation and as a master!

Life has been filled with bright smiles and new adventures over the past few months and I am overjoyed at what the future holds. Good things come to those that wait and I am elated to now sit back and enjoy the ride. I am leaping forwards with both feet and life is nothing but wonderful.

Well I am off to the gym for a good old booty kicking stepper session, so until next time. BALLS TO THE WALLS!

Jenny B

GO FIGURE: The Holiday Season and Booty Building Update!

My special alarm clock (as per last update) arrived safe and sound .. the tune of the alarm clock is my personal motivation and the dedication I possess to achieve my goal of getting back on stage in May. My super hero's (support systems) surround me everyday and make the journey EXTRA enjoyable!

This Saturday I will be 21 weeks away from walking on the stage with my 5 inch hooker/competition heels, sparkling posing suit, 5 layers of pro tan and super Jenny B strut. I cannot wait until that day arrives .. but in the meantime I am enjoying each day of the process.

At the moment I am basking in the fat loading / bulking phase and sitting pretty at 17% bodyfat and holding on at 152lbs! I have made some wicked progress on my lower body thanks to COACH JUGS! Each week I drop my fats and ramp up my carbs for the glorious CARB DAY! At the moment I am running around 2300 calories 6 days a week with 35g of those coming from carbs. To give you an idea as to how many carbs that is .. take a look at perhaps half a Xmas orange .. that’s all folks. With that being said I feel less deprived on this dieting method than any other program I have ever done .. and I have seen some major body improvements from it. On my carb days I enjoy a fruit shake in the morning and then head to the gym to throw some weights around with super carb/sugar energy. Once I am done the workout the bagel eating begins .. as does the magnificent cupcake devouring event .. followed by the pasta throw down and the mashed potato goodness .. the day ends with a piping hot bowl of oatmeal with a banana and a spoonful of peanut butter mixed in for pleasure .. then I roll into bed and sleep like a baby .. but a muscle growing super baby!

My training program just changed to a 4 day a week program which includes compound movements and heavy weights to keep me packing on the muscle. The focus is on the lower body and fine tuning a few things on the upper body. I love it .. enough said! I am up to 32 chin ups and lifting 60lb barbell curls and 280lb leg presses (although not doing them on this program). My strength has improved tenfold and I am excited about the changes and to slowly reveal all the hard work I have put in over the past 4 months!

I am in the process of selecting a posing suit color and style for the competition and slowly getting together all of the other necessary components that go into the prep work. Posing practice officially starts this Sunday and I am PUMPED!

I apologize that this update is filled with stats and details, rather than senseless jibber jabber .. I know how you all like my random banter about ABSolutely nothing! I promise to add useless information on the next update :)

On the home front Calgary is finally starting to feel like home and I am enjoying my job, where the business is about to go, my gym and being close to my Super Hero Sister and mom. Other Super Hero's might be far away BUT as Super Goat says "you don’t have to be next to someone to be close to them" .. or something like that .. I never get quotes and jokes right .. you get the gist!

Thank you to everyone for reading and posting and pushing me forwards when I don’t feel as though I can consume another 2kgs of cottage cheese or another dozen eggs or lift another weight! THIS ONES FOR YOU !!! xxx

The morning starts out lovely .. like every other fat-loading morning .. the air filled with the fresh smell of bacon and the sweet taste of cheesy egg whites .. just enough nutrition to fuel my heavy weight session. Today I have the day off from "work" so I wake up at 0700 to the sound of my stomach rumbling .. thats my alarm for the moment .. waiting on a new alarm to arrive in just a weeks time ;) I scarf that meal one down and head to the gym to throw some weights around .. not literally .. because I always follow proper gym etiquette lol.


The gym is quiet and I hide under my Roxy ball cap to do the following workout:

- Front Squats

- Leg Press ( NEW personal RECORD OF 270lbs)

- GHRs .. or I call them grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs since they are KILLERS

- BB Bicep Curls

- DM Hammers

30min of 30sec bike sprints to get my sweat on!!

I arrive back home from a blood pumpin booty kickin workout to bake some cookies for my super hero guest who arrives next Monday .. cook my meals for the week .. update my website .. run to the store to grab some super supplements and vitamins .. and a few other misc. thingys. Over all a productive day!


My last meal of the day consists of yummy cottage cheese, pb and almonds with a touch of coconut, which = goooood! I decided that I was going to try dry cottage cheese since it is less carbs and more protein which = more food for me. Lets just say this was the first time in HISTORY that i didnt finish my pb treat. Dry cottage cheese = evil .. lets just leave it at that. Looking forward to tonight when I can go back to the soggy cottage cheese that makes me evening much more desirable.

Saying of the day: FOOD IS MY FUEL .. AND I AM ALLOWED TO ENJOY IT SOMETIMES!!

Jenny B ~

GO FIGURE: Post Carb-Up Smiles!

Yesterday started out fantastic with a lovely cup of fresh pineapple .. might not seem like a big deal to some BUT when you haven't touched fruit in almost three weeks .. let me tell you when it hits your lips .. well it almost brings a tear to my eye .. ok that's a slight exaggeration! Another funny thing happens about 20min later .. as I drive to the gym for my sweet (get it pineapple pre-workout) workout .. the veins start popping and the energy starts flowing .. good thing I have my blackberry (Berry) to keep me from zipping through my workout like a speeding bullet! I had a great back and chest workout followed by 20min of serious booty building madness on the stepmill!

I followed the scent of sweet smelling pancakes and Aunt Jemima home where my mother had stacked my 4 pancakes on a warmed plate. We sat and had some coffee and pancakes as my leg jittered back and forth from this new sugar running through my veins !! Holy energy Batman !!

After "breakfast" I ran (not literally as I loath cardio) over to Market Mall to meet Ang. Ang is my super hero friend and client that will be competing in her first Tri-Fitness competition on November 19th. Ang (Super Leggo) had a make-up trial run for stage and so I wanted to go with her to make sure that they did her up "semi-drag queen" style. As all competitors know .. that make-up has to be bright and dark to stand out on stage as the bright lights wash you out. Needless to say she looked gorgeous.

Super Leggo and I headed to the gym to have posing practice .. AKA hooker heel walking time .. Good fun indeed! Seeing my gains in the mirror while gobbling down bagels = my kind of fun . lol

The rest of the afternoon was spent eating other glorious carbs .. getting some work done .. catching up with family and friends over the net and having a facebook message war with one of my best friends Carrie .. always good times!

My day ended at 2300 laying in bed under the covers with a hot bowl of oatmeal with a beautifully sliced green banana and melted peanut butter talking to my Super Hero friend in Winnipeg. Does life get any better than this? A great day filled with friends, family, good food and great workout!

I am a very lucky woman and remain grateful everyday that I am surrounded by such beauty. That I have a roof over my head, a family that RAWKS, friends like no other, a coach who dedicates so much time and energy to helping me achieve my goals, a healthy and fit body that is shaping up, determined to kick some booty on stage, a network of fabulous inspiring people within the fitness industry and the list goes on .. but I don't want to brag ;)

Soooooo today I am back on the fat-loading wagon ready to have an epic workout and use all this energy to push myself to the limits!

Saying of the Day: IF YOU WANT IT BAD ENOUGH .. YOU WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES !! GIVER !!

GO FIGURE: Carb-Up Edition: October 31, 2010

Good Morning .. 0731 to be exact !

30 weeks out and the fat loading diet is moving right along .. helping me to put on some size and give me the energy to workout like the maniac I am .. or claim to be ;) At the moment my nutrition program consists of around 175g of protein, 147g of fats, and less than 40g of carbs. This approach is proving to work really well with my body .. although I never really doubted my coach!

After almost three weeks since my last carb-up today is the day to re-feed the body once again!

Are you asking yourself WHAT THE HECK DOES THIS MEAN and WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT??? Well let me explain .. once upon a time in a far away city called Calgary this determined and slightly off kilter figure competitor decided to embark upon a new challenge .. to kick some booty and grab her pro card in the May 2011 Vancouver WBFF show .. ok maybe I am going back a little too far .. back to the carb-up .. for the past three weeks I have been on low carbs so that I can gain some muscle by using the fat for energy but not consuming carbs so I dont store the fats .. Capiche?? NOW on this glorious Halloween morning at 0800 I will be gobbling up 1 cup of fresh pineapple before I head to the gym for my workout. This might not seem like a BIG DEAL to most of you BUT let me tell you after going 3 weeks with no fruit at all ... ahhhhhhhhhhhh HEAVEN !! So you can imagine what I am going to look like skipping around in the gym tossing dumbbells around left right and centre .. kinda sounds like a circus show .. I assure you it kind of is. I have to thank my coach AKA Coach Jugs for putting up with my 1300 text messages during these workouts! The texts usually go something like this:
- Holy smokes I just saw a vein here and here and here
- I feel high (not that I know what that feels like of course .. I have never inhaled .. and DO NOT approve the use of drugs)
- Can I do more cardio to burn off this energy

OR just a simple "Holy bananas look at what you have done" ... good things of course

Once the workout is completed I will be heading home to feast on some pancakes with my mother .. who is very sad that she has no one to eat baking with on a regular basis. I dont think she understands how fast I will be talking after eating all that syrup .. Jenny B the auctioneer no doubt !!!

The rest of the day is filled with lovely food such as bagels, pizza, oatmeal and the most glorious food of all .. red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing .. give me a moment while I wipe the tear of joy from my eye .. ok thanks!

The rest of the day will be filled with helping one of my EnterActive Health and Fitness girls prepare for her Tri-Fitness competition coming up on November 19th. We will be striking a pose and doing a makeup dress rehearsal to make sure she is GOLDEN for her debut on the stage. She is gonna RAWK IT !!

So off I go into carb land .. where the sugar is sweet .. the workouts are faster than a speeding bullet .. and Jenny B has a smile on her face like nothing you have ever seen before !!

Wish me luck !!

saying of the day: GO BIG OR GO HOME !!

GO FIGURE !! October 30, 2010

A BIT ABOUT "GO FIGURE" and the idea behind it !!

Last year I started writing a series of short stories / columns about football season ;) It turned out to be a hit with the family and friends and therefore I have decided to start writing about my journey in a series called GO FIGURE. These entries will be about my journey towards the goal of obtaining Pro status as a Figure competitor. I am not going to promise that there wont be some wacky stories .. thoughts .. and ideas. I DO PROMISE to stay true to who I am by being 100% honest .. upfront .. and passionate about the health and fitness industry.

I am not the most refined woman .. nor am I the most proper and politically correct. I make sure that I laugh and smile at least once a day even during the toughest times. More than that I make sure that I make at least two people laugh and smile each day. My favorite sound in the world is hearing someone laugh!

My passion is health and fitness and pushing my body and mind to reach new limits each and every day. This journey is already one of the best decisions that I have made. Preparing to get back up on stage after 7 years is exciting in itself. When I stopped competing in 2003 I knew that I would be back one day .. GUESS WHAT .. ITS TIME !!! I plan on making each day count and pushing myself to be the best I can be.

Thank you to my family, friends, clients, coach, blog and facebook followers for the constant motivation and encouragement .. your kind words and positive slaps on the back (and sometimes the tush) mean the world to me! THIS PRO CARD will be just as much for you .. as it will be for me.

SO LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE !!!!

39 WEEKS OUT!!

The past week has been filled with planning and prepping for the upcoming months .. and having a few treats! The Jenny B website has been created and the Jenny B Fit Facebook fan page is up and functioning. Productive .. yes !! I have also contacted and confirmed my coach from October until show time in April!! I am sooo pumped to work with her and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for me.

For the next 10 weeks I will be building and sculpting my physique to make some changes. Monday was an intense upper body workout and today was the ever dreaded lower body circuit. The focus is on the booty and getting those hams dialed in. Tomorrow will bring some soreness .. no doubt!!

The above photo is the first pic I have received from the photographer from the shoot a few weeks ago. I am looking forward to see what the pictures show as far as body changes that I have been working on for the past few years. Fingers crossed for good results!!

I have been working on my portfolio to throw out to a few nutrition companies in hopes of capturing a sponsor for this coming training season. More fingers crossed!!

New marinade discovery: ED Smith No Sugar added pancake syrup with dijon mustard on the chicken breast and grillem up !! Mmmm !!

Favorite Diet Food without a doubt would have to be Protein Pancakes .. or as my clients call them Pantene Procakes .. dont ask why .. I think its because it makes their hair shiny! lol. RECIPE: 1/3 cup dry oatmeal soaked in 2/3 cup of egg whites .. throw the egg n oat mixture in a pam sprayed pan and cook until set, then flip. No sugar added jam plus some pb on top and you are good to go!!

Preliminary Steps

Friday, July 9 2010

A bit of background on me ...

I entered the world of fitness competitions back in 2001 when I trained for the IFBB's Novice Fitness competition in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This was my introduction to the competition world and once I hit the stage I was hooked. A 3rd place trophy made me hungry for more.
The following year the Figure division was introduced and I competed in both the Novice and Provincial divisions taking first place in both competitions. Later on that season the CBBF's National Physique Challenge competition was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba and out of 21 competitors I was elated to take home 1st place.
In 2003 I took to the National Figure championships stage and proudly placed 5th amongst some serious competitors.

Me now ...

During the three years of competing I had the pleasure of doing some amazing photo shoots with some of the best photographers in the business. I quickly fell in love with being in front of the camera just as I loved being on stage and competing. I knew that if I was to ever return into the competition world again that I would need to prepare for a photo shoot to update my portfolio.

So fast forward 7 years to today! After 8 weeks of intense dieting and training I prepared for a photo shoot with Chelsey Goodman in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This morning was the shoot and it was an awesome experience to be in front of the camera again. I cannot wait to see the photos!

THE ULTIMATE GOAL

The itch has returned and I am ready to take on a new challenge, switch federations, and transform my body once again! WBFF HERE I COME !! On April 23rd 2011 I will take to the stage in Vancouver, BC to compete in the Masters Figure division at the WBFF Competition. I have heard so many positive things about this new federation and the people that run it, that I couldn't resist giving it a go. My goal is to obtain my Pro Card at the BC competition and move on to compete in the World's later on in the season in Toronto, Ontario.

I am armed with a game plan, a network of support and more determination than ever before!

I hope that you enjoy reading my posts throughout the next 40 weeks and taking a peak into my journey towards becoming the next WBFF Pro Figure Competitor !!

Thank you for all of your support.

xxx
- J



Candid Photo: July 9th 2010 shoot SNEAK PEAK